Programa Internacional

[Feb. Germany] Dzogchen practice seminar

The Dzogchen teachings of the Bon religion describe how human suffering is born of a fundamental ignorance regarding the Nature of our own minds. Although this Nature is changeless and primordially pure it has become obscured by both emotional and cognitive defilements and so recognition requires methods to overcome these.

The first of the base practices aimed towards this goal is shiné (or calm abiding), which temporarily cultivates a stable, happy and clear state of mind. Once this is achieved, investigation and analysis are undertaken on the mind itself culminating in lhagtong (or superior insight) and a direct introduction to the Natural State of the mind. Supporting this process is trul khor which utilizes the physical body and its subtle energy system to assist in bringing the mind to a suitable condition for realization to occur.

In this retreat Shedrup Lopon Geshe Lodoe Tsukphud will gradually introduce us to these practices. Through regular meditation sessions we will put the teachings directly into practice.

Start of the seminar: 23.02. 2018 // 10:00 Uhr

End of the seminar: 26.02. 2018 // 14:00 Uhr

Venue: Yogahof Hans Vogel, Höfen 12, 91460 Baudenbach, Germany

Retreat fee: 140,00 € (to be paid cash at the beginning of the retreat)

Shedrup Lopon Geshe Lodoe Tsukphud was born in 1976 in Phoksundo village which is situated in the Dolpo region of Nepal. When he was 13 years old, he learnt Tibetan writing and reading as well as a few other subjects from his grandfather Lama Yogi Syamjor. When he turned 15 he was admitted to Thasung Tsoling monastery’s gomdra of Phoksundo village as a lay monk and undertook a 3 year, 3 month and 3 day retreat there. For these 3 years he practiced the Walshay inner tantra cycle, the Dzogchen preliminaries (with 900 000 accumulations), the main practice of Dzogchen (ngo zhi) and some rituals from Khenpo Geshe Samdrup Nyima Rinpoche. Once this was completed he came to the Kathmandu valley and was ordained fully as a monk under Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Bonpo monastery. So it was in 1995 that he began his studies of Sutra, Tantra and Dzogchen in Triten Norbutse's philosophy academy. His principle teacher in the monastery was Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche but he also studied under Khenpo Tenpa Yungrung Rinpoche, Ponlop Tsangpa Tenzin Rinpoche and Drubdra Khenpo Tsultrim Tenzin Rinpoche.

By 2007 he had completed his academic studies and earned the title of a Geshe, which can be understood as a „doctor of philosophy“ in the west. He then joined the meditation academy, learning and practicing the four main cycles of Dzogchen which are the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyu, Yetri Thasel, Dzogchen Gabpa Gukor and Dzogchen Drakpa Korsum as well as their various practice manuals. It took 4 years to complete the meditation school. As a result he was given the title Shengyi Naljor, which means Dzogchen yogi. Shedrup Lopon Geshe Lodoe Tsukphud was the first person to complete both the philosophy and meditation academies.

From 2011 to 2012 Shedrup Lopon Geshe Lodoe Tsukphud taught philosophy in the monastery and also on a number of occasions in Europe. Then in 2013 Yongdzin Lopon Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche and Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche bestowed upon him the position of Tsazin Lopon, which means senior teacher. A little later that year they enthroned him as a Shedrup Lopon, which is the most senior type of teacher in the monastery. Since that time he has been teaching Sutra, Mantra and Dzogchen and some other auxiliary subjects to students on a daily basis at Triten Norbutse.

[Mar. Budapest] Spring Blessing Ritual

Post available in Deutch.

Traditionally, when a Lama comes to the house to recite a text, this means he prays extensively for the people in the house, which in our case is the group of practitioners that regularly gather there, but also our friends and loved ones. During that time everybody is invited to contribute whatever one can, food, tea, money for the Lama, (which is his income), and, most importantly, time to sit and pray together and so increase
the energy. We combine this one-week prayer event with the more modern form of a “Retreat”, which includes Teachings by the Lama, so that we lay people also understand the meaning of the prayers. A retreat also gives us time for meditation, so we can improve our own practice under the guidance of a Lama. Thirdly, there is the possibility to ask the Lama questions, to deepen our understanding, which in turn helps us to integrate our meditation practice with our daily life. Our teaching and prayer text is called kLu’Bum, 100 000 Nagas, Nature Spirits. It is a teaching that our Buddha Tonpa Shenrab, the founder of the Bön religion, gave to the Nagas. Nagas are Nature Spirits that are not able yet to keep peace. We can listen and learn for ourselves, how to appease that Naga-Being inside our own mind. Since it is the mind that governs our actions, we trust that changing our own minds is the way to make the peace-keeping energy in this world stronger. Our world needs this. So whether you are Bönpo or not, have a connection to the Karpat valley or not - please, come, join us, let us raise the spirits!

[Apr. Austria] MA GYUD - Bön mother tantra

01 - 07 April 2018 - Lama-, Yidam-, and Khandro practice and other basics from the Ma Gyud

Teachings by Lama Sangye Monlam

In 2018, Lama Sangye begins a new series of comprehensive teachings of the Ma Gyud (mother tantra). Lama Sangye plans to give one week of Ma Gyud teachings in Spring every year, for seven years (or so), and two weeks of practice retreat in Winter every year, all in Yeshe Sal Ling, in Austria.

The topic of the first part, in April 2018, is the fundamental practice for integrating with the enlightened mind of Lama, Yidam and Khandro (gong choe nam sum). This is the basic practice that every Ma Gyud practitioner performs every day. Lama Sangye will give precise instructions also on the musical part of the recitation (how to play damaru and shang) and teach the mudras accompanying the practice.

Also in 2018, Lama Sangye will teach us about the biography of Milu Samleg (a central figure in the history of the Ma Gyud), from the "meditation according to the mandala of the sun" chapter of the Ma Gyud, and teach parts of the Tharlam "way of liberation" chapter of the Ma Gyud, containing basic practices.

The Ma Gyud is an important tantric cycle in its own right, but, in addition, it is the source of the best known auxiliary practices for Dzogchen, such as Tsa-lung (Tummo) and dream yoga. Many of us Western practitioners have learned Tummo and/or dream yoga according to Shardza Rinpoche's Kusum Rangshar. The Ma Gyud is the main source of the treatment of these practices in Kusum Rangshar, but the Ma Gyud version of these practices is often simpler, focusing on the essential.

Also contained in the Ma Gyud, in the "drol lam" chapter, are mind-boggling exercises (comparable to Rushen practices for Dzogchen) for the purpose of putting the practitioner into the "natural state" that is the basis of both Tantra and Dzogchen - another reason why the Ma Gyud is useful to the Dzogchen practitioner.

This series of teachings is a rare opportunity to learn the practices of the Ma Gyud, this deep and fascinating, important tantric cycle, that frequently sweeps us off our feet with its mental experiments and unique style of thinking that frequently leaps from bodily fluids to abstraction beyond concepts in the same line of text.

As in his previous cycle of mother tantra teachings, Lama Sangye will go through the original Ma Gyud root text (Guru Nöntse's terma) with us and comment on it. Lama Sangye teaches in Tibetan and will be interpreted into English.

Prerequisites: Lama Sangye Mönlam's Ma Gyud teachings are suitable for beginners and new students as well as for advanced practitioners, including those who have already received Ma Gyud teachings. As most of us have experienced, with profound texts such as the Ma Gyud, one understands the same teachings on a new level upon every encounter with them, and always learns something new.

[Apr. Germany] Dzogchen training practices

13 - 16 April 2018

Led by Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche

Since November 2015 a dzogchen practice training takes place in Germany under the guidance of Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche . The group receives the teachings of the Dru Gyalwai Chaktri from the "Zhangzhung Nyengyud" Dru Gyalwa Yungdrung and practices together with Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche. The cycle begins with the Ngöndro teachings and is taught step by step through to the end. The group meets 3 times 4 days per year and has now completed the teachings for the Ngöndro practice, and begins with the first Dzogchen exercises, and is thus closed. Following the success - a second group will be opened in October 2017 which will also receive the practical instructions of the main Dzogchen cycle of Yungdrung Bon "Zhangzhung Nyengyud". This second group will be held parallel to the first group, it is led by one of the Geshe from the monastery Triten Norbutse, and is under the supervision of Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche, who is the abbot of the monastery Triten Norbutse in Kathmandu. Some parts of the practice will be performed together by both groups. Most will however take place in separate rooms.

The Heart Drops of Dharmakaya

Yungdrung Bön High Lama comes to Finland for the first time to give Dzogchen teachings on The Heart Drops of Dharmakaya in May 5. – 6. 2018 in Helsinki.

Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche was born in Dhorpatan, a Bön community in a remote area of western Nepal. At the age of 11 he joined other monks at his local monastery. After a few years he continued his studies at the Dialectics School of Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India. After being awarded the Geshe degree in 1994 he continued studies of Tantra and Dzogchen under the guidance of Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche at Triten Norbutse Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Khenpo Tenpa Yungdrung Rinpoche has been the abbot of Triten Norbutse monastery since 2001. He teaches widely in Europe, Mexico, South-Ameria and USA. His teaching style is renowned for its great clarity and depth.

The Heart Drops of Dharmakaya (Kunzang Nying-tig) by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen is a powerful and practical instructional text, which cuts to the heart of Dzogchen practice including preliminary practices, the practice of trekchö, the practice of tögal and bardo, and phowa practices.

The Heart Drops of Dharmakaya teachings were composed by Shardza Tashi Gyaltsen, a great Tibetan scholar and practitioner who upon his death in 1935 achieved the rainbow body, in which his physical body dissolved into light. Shardza Rinpoche was one of the most influential Bön teachers of his time; his works are used as textbooks in many Tibetan monasteries.

This course is the first part of this precious teaching which will hopefully continue for many years to come.